Birmingham is one of the UK’s most well-known places for its 18th century historic sights and bustling city life. Based in the West Midlands, the city is home to some of England’s famous faces and with Industrial Revolution-era landmarks, the city is stunning to walk around, taking in the vast canals and parks dotted throughout. In case you need more of a reason to visit, here are five reasons why you should visit Birmingham:
Black Sabbath
Originating from Birmingham, Black Sabbath have had a massive influence on the rock and metal musical industry. The band’s new three-year project by the Home of Metal has taken over the original 2011 heavy metal show hosted at Birmingham’s Museum and Art Gallery. The all-new Home of Metal show will be focused on Black Sabbath to showcase the cultural identity and legacy the band left behind. Although the project is based in Birmingham, it’s going global on an exciting worldwide tour.
BLOC Hotel
Set deep within the Jewelry quarter, the BLOC hotel is one of Birmingham’s most well-known hotels and there’s plenty of reasons why. With modern art deco touches and space-saving storage within the rooms, the BLOC hotel doesn’t just look great, but it feels great once you’re in it too.
The space-saving system originates from a Japanese design and the multi-layer Artemide ambient lighting creates a welcoming, vibrant experience during your stay.
Balti
With plenty of Balti houses within the city, you can’t make a visit without tasting the authentic Indian dishes. With curry houses offering naan bread’s bigger than your torso, the food in Birmingham is not to be missed.
Museums & Historical Areas
Other than the original Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, which is well worth a visit, there are quite a few other areas you should see if you’re interested in the history and culture of the city. Local to the BLOC hotel, the Museum of the Jeweler is an old-fashioned jewelry factory that shows how the jewelry quarter got its name. The Coffin Works, Pen Factory and National Motorcycle Museum are also great museums to explore if you have the time. If you’re looking for heritage sites and historical areas to educate and inform you of Birmingham’s vast past, there are plenty of those too. Aston Hall is a beautifully ornate building built in the 1600’s and if you can, you should spend time viewing the grounds and the architecture. If you’re a big fan of architecture, there are plenty of ornate churches that cannot be missed. Whether it’s St Martin in the bullring or Lichfield Cathedral, the only medieval three-spired Cathedral in the UK.
Shopping
Experience an authentic British shopping trip with the local and chain shops you can find in Birmingham. If you mention shopping to anyone in Birmingham, they will direct you to the Bullring, the largest shopping centre in the city. Spend hours browsing the shops, grabbing a bite to eat or simply people watching as the day goes by.
Whether you want to check out the historic sights and museums or do a spot of shopping, there are so many more reasons why Birmingham is a great place to visit. If you rent a car in Birmingham, you’ll be able to see the sights at your own pace after spending a night in the famous Bloc Hotel. With so much to do in Birmingham, you will definitely be spoilt for choice.